Porcelain tooth-facing.



PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

L. L. POS'ION. PORCELAIN TOOTH FACING,

APPLICATION FILED 0013,1904

willlrllllrlllflfl MVtA/TOR LEO/V 1. PosTo/v ATTORNEYS a side view of the backing.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE- PORCELAIN TOOTH-FACING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application filed October 3, 1904:. Serial No. 227,084.

To all whom it may/concern.-

Be it known that I, LEON LEROY POSTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Council Bluffs, in the county of Pottawattamie, State of Iowa, have invented an Improvement in Porcelain Tooth-Facings, of which the following is a specification.

' The object of my invention is to provide a tooth that can be slipped on or off a backing and at the same time be made at little cost and also be strong and readily replaced by a new one when broken.

The construction, arrangement, and attachment of parts are as hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the porcelain facing or tooth proper. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the metal backing for the tooth, the same comprising an angular plate and a rod secured to its back. Fig. 4is

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the porcelain tooth and the backing, together with the filling or gold solder applied to the backing. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the porcelain tooth or facing 1 has a back constructed in angular formthat is to say, with a fiat vertical face 2 and a horizontal shorter portion or shelf 3. These parts are shown arranged at a right angle to each other; but they may be at a little less than a right angle. In the vertical back 2 is formed a dovetail groove 4, which extends its entire length and down into and below the shelf 3, its terminal or socket being indicated by I The metal backing for the tooth 1 is composed of an angular metal plate, formed of a vertical portion 5 and a horizontal or shelf portion 5, together with a rod or stout wire 6, which is soldered to the back or vertical member 5 and extends below it, as indicated at 6, Figs. 3 and 4:. These parts 5 5 and 6 6 are constructed of gold, platinum, or other equivalent metal. The rod 6 is adapted to slide and fit somewhat closely in the vertical dovetail groove 4, and

its lower end 6 enters the socket 4:, while the plate 5 5 conforms-to and is made to fit closely to the corresponding parts 2 and 3 of the tooth 1. It will be understood that the flexibility of the backing-plate permits the latter to be bent and fitted with the required accuracy. When the parts have been dulyfitted, the backing, consisting of the angular plate and the rod attached to it, may be removed and filled, as indicated at 7, Fig. 5, after which it may be set in position on the tooth, and the latter is then ready for attachment to the part by which it is supported in the month.

By the construction and. arrangement of parts above described I secure great strength of engagement or fastening between the tooth or facing and the metal backing, and an important feature of the attachment is the extension of the rod 6 below the angular plate and into a socket formed in the body of the facing below the horizontal shelf or shelf portion 3. It will be apparent that this result and advantage are attained in part by reason of the fact that the socket 4 is formed in the thickest and strongest portion of the tooth 1. It is apparent that a dentist may construct the backing for himself by simply soldering a piece of wire of proper gage to a plate bent at the proper angle. The wire is made of standard size, and of course the angle of the shelf or shoulder 3 to the flat back 2 is absolutely the same for each class, so that the parts may be interchanged, thus providing for easy replacement when a part is broken.

What I claim is The improved dental attachment comprising a porcelain tooth having its back constructed in right-angular form, the vertical portion having a dovetail groove which extends down below the horizontal or shelf portion and terminates in a socket, and a rightangular plate having a rod secured to and extending below it, the said plate and rod being fitted to the tooth proper and the rod being held in the said groove and extending below the shelf into the said socket, as shown and described.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two Witnesses.

LEON'L/EROY POSTON.

Witnesses:

* S. F. CLARK,

S. W. PAGE. 

